Outpouring of support for dog shot by neighbor

By Chris Potter

Tuesday

Nov 7, 2017 at 12:05 PMNov 7, 2017 at 12:05 PM

FRIENDSHIP — Lisa Hitchcock founded Rescue Pups as a sanctuary for the region’s neglected four-legged friends.

That sanctuary was broken on Saturday, when New York State Troopers responded to a 911 call from Hitchcock. One of her dogs, Clooney, had been shot with an arrow while Hitchcock was repairing a fence on her Pangburn Road property outside Friendship.

“I heard a pop and the dog started screaming,” Hitchcock recalled to The Daily Reporter on Monday.

“We try to save dogs and protect them, to give them a place where they can be safe,” she said. “To have that pierced with an arrow and one of our dogs nearly killed is heartbreaking.”

On Sunday, Troopers arrested 63-year-old Marvin C. Boncore, of Wirt, and charged him with Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal (an E Felony) and Reckless Endangerment 2nd.

Boncore allegedly shot the dog with an arrow through the leg. Boncore was arrested and transported to police barracks in Amity. He was arraigned at the Town of Wirt Court and released on his own recognizance. Boncore is scheduled to appear back in court later this month.

Troopers said the dog had entered Boncore’s property.

“She was not very far from my property line at all,” Hitchcock said. “He had threatened to shoot my dogs before. The dog control officer who passed away a few years ago had let him know not to touch our dogs. We have fenced in six acres to keep our dogs safe. At no time do we leave them unsupervised.”

Clooney, a one-year-old Beagle/Labrador mix, was immediately taken to Olean’s Haskell Valley Veterinary Clinic, where vets removed the arrow and bandaged her wounds.

Clooney had multiple broken bones where the arrow pierced her leg, including an elbow. Thankfully, though, her injuries were non life-threatening. She had a consultation Monday in Orchard Park, and will undergo surgery there today.

Expenses are rising, and to defray costs Hitchcock has started a Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/r7kqat9w. The page had already reached nearly $6,500 of its $10,000 goal by Monday night. The donations came from over 200 individuals, ranging from gifts of $500 to $5.

“We do it on our own, we have a little place and we hardly ever ask for donations,” Hitchcock said. “When we did ask, people really stepped up to help Clooney. We’ve been really lucky that way. The support makes it possible for us to save her leg. We appreciate it immensely.”

Rescue Pups is a registered non-profit organization that finds homes for about 70 dogs a year. Many, like Clooney, have traveled a rough road. Clooney was homeless before being adopted from the Chautauqua County SPCA in May. After a month or so, she somehow ended up homeless again and was picked up by dog control before finding her way to Rescue Pups.

“She’s super sweet, super nice,” Hitchcock said. “She’d never hurt another dog or cat. She’s looking for someone to give her the perfect forever home. They’re guessing it will be an eight-week recovery time with lots of follow-ups back and forth.”

For more information, visit the Go Fund Me page or search Rescue Pups on Facebook.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Community Info

Sister Publication

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Wellsville Daily Reporter ~ 159 North Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service